Spurred by a tough man-to-man press, the Coupeville High School boys basketball team opened Olympic League play with an 82-69 win over Klahowya in Silverdale Friday, Dec. 11.

“Our defense got us the lead,” coach Anthony Smith said. “We came out full court man-to-man and the kids were into it. We came out smoking, creating turnovers, getting into transition.”

The Wolves rang up 25 points in the first quarter and led 45-26 at the break.

Klahowya (0-6) trimmed the gap to “eight or 10 late in the third quarter,” Smith said, but the Wolves handled the Eagles’ surge and pulled out the win.

Risen Johnson, despite taking an elbow to the eye that later required stitches, guided the Coupeville attack with 22 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Johnson received plenty of offensive help. Wiley Hesselgrave scored 15 points, Jordan Ford 12, Gabe Wynn 12, Deandre Mitchell 11, Ryan Griggs nine and Desmond Bell one.

Ford also had 10 rebounds and three steals, Griggs added five rebounds and two blocks and Hesselgrave snared three steals.

The Wolves are improving on the court and in confidence, Smith said.

“The kids are starting to think, ‘Hey, we can win basketball games,’” Smith said.

After playing six games in 12 days, Coupeville (3-3) will now play only one in the next 17 when its hosts Concrete (1-3) at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, in a non-league game.